25 Adapting to Global Climate Disruption at Multiple Scales

Monday, 21 March 2022
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Commonwealth Salon 3

COST-EFFECTIVE CARBON CAPTURE WITH NATURAL PROCESSES

Paper number: 25-4
Program: Symposia Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM

Authors

Abstract

Directly addressing the climate crisis requires multiple cost-effective approaches. Any one action will not be sufficient to avoid impacts from fossil fuel sourced GHGs. We have embarked on a project that sequesters CO2 using scaled-up natural processes in eutrophic water systems.

Photosynthesis removes atmospheric CO2, converting it to plant material. This carbon can be sequestered in water bodies via sedimentation processes using aquatic algae and cyanobacteria. We have documented natural occurrences where photosynthetic conversion to organic sediment has occurred at about 8% of the photosynthetic input, equating to carbon storage of 1 gram of carbon/cm2-yr. Preliminary field findings indicate eutrophic lakes, industrial ponds, and impacted aquatic systems can be manipulated to achieve significant carbon sequestration and be restored to quality habitats. Through dosing of aquatic systems with algae and cyanobacteria, we anticipate higher rates of carbon capture. Numerous sites are projected to have significant impacts on the global atmospheric carbon system.

Proof of concept pilot studies are underway with our macro carbon capture system. We are improving early economic models to demonstrate the feasibility of scaling up this carbon capture system. Low-impact, low-cost, and highly profitable carbon capture using natural processes and minimal technological loading present a scientifically sound and lucrative business solution to help addressing impacts from climate change.

Most other carbon capture programs involve highly engineered approaches resulting in high energy and materials use at considerable cost ($/t CO2 removed). Additional costs are incurred for infrastructure and deep sequestration wells for storage of extracted gas – thereby significantly increasing the embodied carbon footprint, as well as cost, of engineered approaches. Although many of these methods are technically feasible, they may simply not be economic.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022NE-373331

© Copyright 2022 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.